Clamping apparatus for antenna

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for an antenna, the clamping apparatus including a rotation unit configured to rotate an antenna in a horizontal direction, a tilting unit configured to rotate the antenna in a vertical direction, and a rotation/vibration prevention unit configured to adjust a direction of the antenna by rotating at least one of the rotation unit and the tilting unit and prevent the antenna from arbitrarily rotating after the direction of the antenna is adjusted, in which the rotation/vibration prevention unit includes a rotation motor, a worm gear configured to be rotated by the rotation motor, a shaft configured to define at least one rotation center, and a worm wheel gear installed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft and configured to rotate at least one of the rotation unit and the tilting unit while being rotated by the worm gear, thereby easily adjusting the direction of the antenna by controlling the rotation motor and preventing the antenna with the adjusted direction from arbitrarily rotating.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a clamping apparatus for an antenna,and more particularly, to a clamping apparatus for an antenna, which iscapable of efficiently disposing an antenna in a dense installationspace and easily adjusting a direction of the antenna.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, as an example of wireless communication technologies, amultiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) technology refers to a technologyfor innovatively increasing data transmission capacity by using aplurality of antennas. This technology uses a spatial multiplexingtechnique, in which a transmitter transmits different data through therespective transmission antennas, and a receiver distinguishes thetransmitted data by performing appropriate signal processing.

Therefore, it is possible to transmit a larger amount of data byincreasing both the number of transmitting antennas and the number ofreceiving antennas and thus increasing channel capacities. For example,if the number of antennas increases to ten, the channel capacity ofabout 10 times is ensured by using the same frequency band in comparisonwith the current single antenna system.

Eight antennas are used in 4G LTE-advanced, and a product equipped with64 or 128 antennas has been developed in a pre-5G step. Base stationequipment having a much large number of antennas has been used in 5G,which refers to a massive MIMO technology. The current cell managementis 2-dimension, but 3D-beamforming may be enabled when the massive MIMOtechnology is introduced, which also represents a full-dimension (FD)MIMO.

In the massive MIMO technology, the number of transmitters and thenumber of filters are increased as the number of antennas (ANTS) isincreased. Nevertheless, because of cost of lease or spatial restrictionin respect to an installation location, RF components (antennas,filters, power amplifiers, transceivers, etc.) are practicallymanufactured to be small in size, light in weight, and inexpensive.Further, the massive MIMO requires a high output to expand a coverage,but electric power consumption and heat generation, which are caused bythe high output, have a negative effect on reductions in weight andsize.

In particular, to install the MIMO antenna, in which modules includingRF elements and digital elements are coupled in a layered structure, ina limited space, there is a need for compact and miniaturized design ofa plurality of layers constituting the MIMO antenna in order to maximizeease of installation or spatial utilization. Further, there is a strongneed for free adjustment of directions of an antenna apparatus installedon a single support pole.

Further, there is also a need for a technical configuration formaintaining a predetermined direction of the antenna installed on thesupport pole according to an external environment.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

A technical object of the present invention is to provide a clampingapparatus for an antenna, which is capable of improving a degree ofinstallation freedom and workability at the time of installing anantenna on a support pole with many spatial restrictions.

Another technical object of the present invention is to provide aclamping apparatus for an antenna, which is capable of maintaining apredetermined direction of an antenna by preventing the antennainstalled on a support pole from arbitrarily tilting and rotating.

The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to theaforementioned technical problem, and other technical problems, whichare not mentioned above, may be clearly understood by those skilled inthe art from the following descriptions.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides aclamping apparatus for an antenna, the clamping apparatus including: arotation unit configured to rotate an antenna in a horizontal direction;a tilting unit configured to rotate the antenna in a vertical direction;and a rotation/vibration prevention unit configured to adjust adirection of the antenna by rotating at least one of the rotation unitand the tilting unit and prevent the antenna from arbitrarily rotatingafter the direction of the antenna is adjusted, in which therotation/vibration prevention unit includes: a rotation motor; a wormgear configured to be rotated by the rotation motor; a shaft configuredto define at least one rotation center; and a worm wheel gear installedon an outer peripheral surface of the shaft and configured to rotate atleast one of the rotation unit and the tilting unit while being rotatedby the worm gear.

Worm wheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gear may be provided in the formof spur gear teeth.

Worm wheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gear may be provided in the formof helical gear teeth.

The rotation/vibration prevention unit may further include an innerdamping idle gear. The inner damping idle gear may be provided betweenthe worm gear and the worm wheel gear, one side of the inner dampingidle gear may engage with worm gear teeth of the worm gear, and theother side of the inner damping idle gear may engage with worm wheelgear teeth of the worm wheel gear.

The inner damping idle gear may be provided in the form of a spur gear.

The inner damping idle gear may be provided in the form of a worm wheelgear capable of engaging with the worm wheel gear teeth.

The rotation/vibration prevention unit may further include an outerdamping idle gear. The worm gear may be provided between the outerdamping idle gear and the worm wheel gear, one side of the worm gear mayengage with gear teeth of the outer damping idle gear, and the otherside of the worm gear may engage with worm wheel gear teeth of the wormwheel gear.

The outer damping idle gear may be provided in the form of a spur gear.

The outer damping idle gear may be provided in the form of a worm wheelgear capable of engaging with the worm wheel gear teeth.

The rotation/vibration prevention unit may further include: a brake gearprovided at an end of the shaft; and an additional damping idle gearconfigured to engage with the brake gear.

The rotation/vibration prevention unit may further include: a motorbracket configured to support the worm gear so that the worm gear isrotatable; and a leaf spring damper provided at one side of the motorbracket and configured to elastically support the motor bracket to theworm wheel gear.

Other detailed matters of the embodiment are included in the detaileddescription and the drawings.

Advantageous Effects

The embodiment of the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to thepresent invention may achieve the following various effects.

First, since the direction of the antenna may be automatically adjustedby the tilting unit and the rotation unit, it is possible to improve theworkability of the operators in working sites.

Second, it is possible to prevent the direction of the antenna fixed bythe tilting unit and the rotation unit from arbitrarily tilting orrotating, thereby maintaining signal transmission reliability of theantenna.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to theaforementioned effects, and other effects, which are not mentionedabove, will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from theclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a clampingapparatus for an antenna according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is installed on a support pole.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which anantenna illustrated in FIG. 1 is excluded.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views illustrating a state inwhich a common coupling unit is disassembled from an arm unit in aconfiguration of the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are exploded perspective views illustrating a state inwhich a rotation unit is disassembled from the common coupling unit inthe configuration of the clamping apparatus for an antenna according tothe embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are exploded perspective views illustrating a state inwhich a tilting unit is disassembled from the rotation unit in theconfiguration of the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the tilting unit,the rotation unit, and the common coupling unit in the configuration ofthe clamping apparatus for an antenna according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are cut-away perspective views taken along lines A-A,B-B, and C-C in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a clamping apparatus for anantenna according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10 to 14 are perspective views illustrating various embodiments ofa rotation/vibration prevention unit in the configuration of theclamping apparatus for an antenna according to the embodiments of thepresent invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, embodiments of a clamping apparatus for an antennaaccording to the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. In assigning reference numeralsto constituent elements of the respective drawings, it should be notedthat the same constituent elements will be designated by the samereference numerals, if possible, even though the constituent elementsare illustrated in different drawings. Further, in the followingdescription of the embodiments of the present invention, a detaileddescription of publicly known configurations or functions incorporatedherein will be omitted when it is determined that the detaileddescription obscures the subject matters of the embodiments of thepresent invention.

In addition, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used todescribe constituent elements of the embodiments of the presentinvention. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminatingone constituent element from another constituent element, and thenature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are notlimited by the terms. Further, unless otherwise defined, all terms usedherein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaningas commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains. The terms such as those defined in a commonly useddictionary should be interpreted as having meanings consistent withmeanings in the context of related technologies and should not beinterpreted as ideal or excessively formal meanings unless explicitlydefined in the present application.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a clampingapparatus for an antenna according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is installed on a support pole, FIG. 2 is an explodedperspective view illustrating a state in which an antenna illustrated inFIG. 1 is excluded, FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective viewsillustrating a state in which a common coupling unit is disassembledfrom an arm unit in a configuration of the clamping apparatus for anantenna according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 4Aand 4B are exploded perspective views illustrating a state in which arotation unit is disassembled from the common coupling unit in theconfiguration of the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to theembodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are explodedperspective views illustrating a state in which a tilting unit isdisassembled from the rotation unit in the configuration of the clampingapparatus for an antenna according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5B, a clamping apparatus for an antennaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may include an armunit 100 coupled to a support pole 1, a common coupling unit 200 coupledto the arm unit 100, a rotation unit 300 coupled to the common couplingunit 200 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction, and a tiltingunit 400 coupled to the rotation unit 300 so as to be rotatable in avertical direction and coupled to the antenna A. In this case, therotation in the horizontal direction may be identical to a rotatingrotation, and the rotation in the vertical direction may be identical toa tilting rotation. That is, the rotation in the horizontal directionand the rotating rotation may mean a rotation about a vertical axis as arotation center. In addition, the rotation in the vertical direction andthe tilting rotation may mean a rotation about a horizontal axis as arotation center.

The arm unit 100 may serve to mediate the coupling between the commoncoupling unit 200 and the support pole 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the arm unit 100 may include: an arm main body 110extending by a predetermined length from the support pole 1 toward oneside in a horizontal direction; a stationary bracket 120 integrated withthe other end of ends of the arm main body 110 which corresponds to thesupport pole 1, the stationary bracket 120 being coupled to be in closecontact with one side of an outer peripheral surface of the support pole1; and a separable bracket 130 coupled to the stationary bracket 120 bymeans of a plurality of long fixing bolts 140 and coupled to be in closecontact with the other side of the outer peripheral surface of thesupport pole 1. Ends of the plurality of long fixing bolts 140 may becoupled to fixing nuts 150 provided on the separable bracket 130.

A plurality of reinforcing ribs 115 may be integrated with the other endof the arm main body 110 and improve rigidity of the coupling partbetween the arm main body 110 and the stationary bracket 120. The armmain body 110 and the stationary bracket 120 may be made of metal andintegrated with each other. However, the arm main body 110 and thestationary bracket 120 need not be necessarily integrated by injectionmolding. The arm main body 110 and the stationary bracket 120 may beseparately manufactured and then integrated with each other by weldingor the like.

Meanwhile, the arm main body 110 and the stationary bracket 120 may bemade of metal and integrally manufactured in a mold. The separablebracket 130 may also be made of metal and manufactured by using a molddifferent from the mold used to manufacture the arm main body 110 andthe stationary bracket 120.

As described above, the stationary bracket 120 and the separable bracket130 of the arm unit 100 are coupled to each other by bolting and extendby a predetermined length in the horizontal direction perpendicular to alongitudinal direction of the support pole 1, such that the antenna Amay be installed to be spaced apart from the support pole 1 by apredetermined length.

The common coupling unit 200 may be coupled to a tip portion of the armmain body 110 of the arm unit 100 first and mediate coupling of aclamping unit 60 which is manufactured according to variousspecifications and will be described below. However, according to theembodiments, the rotation unit 300 may be installed directly to the tipportion of the arm main body 110 without the common coupling unit 200(see FIGS. 8 and 9 to be described below).

Hereinafter, the description will be made on the premise that therotation unit 300 is installed on the tip portion of the arm main body110 of the arm unit 100 by means of the common coupling unit 200. Thecommon coupling unit 200 is basically similar in shape to the rotationunit 300. The common coupling unit 200 may be structured to be fixed tothe tip portion of the arm main body 110 or selectively rotated togetherwith the rotation unit 300 when an additional horizontal rotatingrotation of the antenna A is required.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the common coupling unit 200 may includeone end common coupling portion 201 having one end providing a couplingportion to which the rotation unit 300 is coupled, and the other endcommon coupling portion 202 extending by a predetermined length from anupper end of one end common coupling portion 201 toward the other sideand having a coupling shaft 210 extending downward by a predeterminedlength, the coupling shaft 210 being an axis and serving as a couplingelement.

A rotating angle adjustment unit 230 of rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330 to be described below may be embedded in one endcommon coupling portion 201 of the common coupling unit 200. Thisconfiguration will be described below in detail.

A fixing shaft hole block 190 for coupling the common coupling unit 200may be provided at the tip portion of the arm main body 110 of the armunit 100.

In more detail, the arm main body 110 may have a quadrangular tubularshape having a vacant space therein, the tip portion of the arm mainbody 110 may be opened in one direction, and upper and lower ends of thearm main body 110 may protrude in a semi-circular shape.

The fixing shaft hole block 190 may be inserted into and fixed to theopened tip portion of the arm main body 110 and have a shapecorresponding to a vacant internal space 160 of the tip portion of thearm main body 110. Since the fixing shaft hole block 190 corresponds tothe vacant internal space 160 of the tip portion of the arm main body110, an external shape of one end of the fixing shaft hole block 190 maybe in the form of a circular column having an approximatelysemi-circular horizontal cross-section, and an external shape of theother end of the fixing shaft hole block 190 may have a quadrangularblock shape.

The fixing shaft hole block 190 may have a shaft insertion hole 191 towhich the coupling shaft 210 of the common coupling unit 200 is axiallyinstalled from above to below. Further, a shaft through-hole 165 may beformed at an upper side of the tip portion of the arm main body 110 sothat the coupling shaft 210 of the common coupling unit 200 penetratesthe shaft through-hole 165 and is inserted into the shaft insertion hole191 formed in the fixing shaft hole block 190.

The coupling shaft 210 may be coupled to the shaft insertion hole 191 byany one of interference-fit coupling, screw coupling, and bolting. Theclamping apparatus for an antenna according to the embodiment of thepresent invention has the structure in which the coupling shaft 210 ofthe common coupling unit 200 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole191 of the fixing shaft hole block 190 from above to below, matched inshape with the shaft insertion hole 191 of the fixing shaft hole block190, and then securely fixed by non-illustrated fixing bolts.

Meanwhile, a brake unit (no reference numeral) may be provided at thetip portion of the arm main body 110 of the arm unit 100 and generate apredetermined frictional force between the tip portion of the arm mainbody 110 and the common coupling unit 200.

The brake unit may include upper brake washer pads 170 a and 175 aprovided at an upper side of the tip portion of the arm unit 100 andconfigured to generate a frictional force against an upper joint surfaceof the common coupling unit 200, and lower brake washer pads 170 b and175 b provided at a lower side of the tip portion of the arm main body110 of the arm unit 100 and configured to generate a frictional forceagainst a lower joint surface of the common coupling unit 200.

The upper brake washer pads 170 a and 175 a and the lower brake washerpads 170 b and 175 b may respectively include fixing plate portions 170a and 170 b fixed to the upper and lower sides of the tip portion of thearm main body 110 of the arm unit 100 and configured to provide afriction surface, and rotation plate portions 175 a and 175 b fixed tothe upper or lower side of the common coupling unit 200 and configuredto generate the frictional force against the fixing plate portions 170 aand 170 b while rotating.

The fixing plate portions 170 a and 170 b may include an upper fixingplate portion 170 a fixed to the upper side of the tip portion of thearm main body 110 of the arm unit 100, and a lower fixing plate portion170 b fixed to the lower side of the tip portion of the arm main body110 of the arm unit 100.

The lower brake washer pads 170 b and 175 b may be installed by means ofa washer installation bracket 180 extending from a lower end of one endcommon coupling portion 201 of the common coupling unit 200 toward theother end and provided on a lower surface of the tip portion of the armmain body 110 so as to extend.

The rotation plate portions 175 a and 175 b may include an upperrotation plate portion 175 a fixed to a lower surface of the other endcommon coupling portion 202 of the common coupling unit 200 and generatea frictional force against the upper fixing plate portion 170 a whilerotating, and a lower rotation plate portion 175 b fixed to an uppersurface of the washer installation bracket 180 and generate a frictionalforce against the lower fixing plate portion 170 b while rotating.

The lower rotation plate portion 175 b is provided on the upper surfaceof the washer installation bracket 180, and the lower fixing plateportion 170 b is fixed to the lower side of the tip portion of the armmain body 110 of the arm unit 100, thereby generating a predeterminedfrictional force when the common coupling unit 200 rotates as theadditional rotation is needed as described above.

Meanwhile, the clamping unit 60 may be configured to rotate or tilt toset a direction of antenna A while mediating the installation of theantenna A on the arm unit 100.

In more detail, the clamping unit 60 may include the common couplingunit 200 coupled to the tip portion of the arm main body 110 of the armunit 100, the rotation unit 300 coupled to the tip portion of the commoncoupling unit 200, and the tilting unit 400 coupled to the rotation unit300.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the antenna A may be separably installed onthe tilting unit 400.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a bracket panel 405 may be attached to a frontsurface of the tilting unit 400, and a hook fastening bracket (notillustrated) may be provided on a rear surface of the antenna A coupledto the tilting unit 400 and spaced apart rearward from the rear surfaceof the antenna A.

An operator, who installs the antenna A, simply inserts and seats thehook fastening bracket into an installation groove provided in thetilting unit 400 from above to below in a state in which the hookfastening bracket is temporarily fixed to the rear surface of theantenna A. Then, the operator may securely assemble the antenna A andthe tilting unit 400 by using hook fixing screws (not illustrated).Therefore, a plurality of operators is not required, and assemblyproperties may be improved.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the rotation unit 300 may include one endrotation coupling portion 301 having one end providing a couplingportion to which the tilting unit 400 is coupled, and the other endrotation coupling portion 302 extending by a predetermined length froman upper end of one end rotation coupling portion 301 toward the otherside and having a rotating shaft fixing portion 310 extending downwardby a predetermined length, the rotating shaft fixing portion 310 being arotation axis of the rotation unit 300.

The above-mentioned method of coupling the coupling shaft 210 to theshaft insertion hole 191 of the fixing shaft hole block 190 may beapplied to couple the common coupling unit 200 of the rotating shaftfixing portion 310 to a shaft hole 231′ (see FIG. 6) of a rotating shaft231 provided on one end common coupling portion 201.

Meanwhile, a tilting angle adjustment unit 330 of the rotation/vibrationprevention units 230 and 330 to be described below may be embedded inone end rotation coupling portion 301. This configuration will bedescribed below in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the tilting unit 400 may include one endtilting coupling portion 401 having one end to which the antenna A isdetachably coupled, and the other end tilting coupling portions 402extending from two opposite left and right ends of one end tiltingcoupling portion 401 toward the other end and tiltably coupled to twoopposite left and right walls of one end rotation coupling portion 301of the rotation unit 300.

A tilting shaft fixing portion 410 may be provided on one of the otherend tilting coupling portions 402 provided at the two opposite left andright sides, and the tilting shaft fixing portion 410 may be insertedinto a tilting coupling hole 365 formed in one end rotation couplingportion 301.

The above-mentioned method of coupling the coupling shaft 210 to theshaft insertion hole 191 of the fixing shaft hole block 190 may beapplied to couple the tilting shaft fixing portion 410 to a shaft hole331′ (see FIG. 6) of a tilting shaft 331 provided on one end rotationcoupling portion 301.

The tilting shaft fixing portion 410 may be recessed from outside toinside the other end tilting coupling portion 402 so as to be fixed tothe tilting shaft 331 by non-illustrated fixing bolts inserted andfastened from outside to inside. A tilting shield cap 403 may be coupledto an outer surface of the tilting shaft fixing portion 410 to cover thecompletely fastened and fixed fixing bolts from the outside.

The rotating shaft fixing portion 310 provided on the rotation unit 300may serve as a center of the horizontal rotating rotation of the commoncoupling unit 200 or the arm unit 100 relative to the arm main body 110.Further, the tilting shaft fixing portion 410 provided on the tiltingunit 400 may serve as a center of the vertical tilting rotation relativeto the rotation unit 300.

As described above, in the clamping unit 60, the rotation unit 300 iscoupled to the common coupling unit 200 so as to be rotatable about therotating shaft fixing portion 310 in the horizontal direction, such thatthe antenna A may be rotated in the horizontal direction. The tiltingunit 400 is coupled to be rotatable about the tilting shaft fixingportion 410 in the vertical direction, such that the antenna A may berotated in the vertical direction.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the tilting unit, the rotationunit, and the common coupling unit in the configuration of the clampingapparatus for an antenna according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the clamping unit 60 may further include therotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330. The rotation/vibrationprevention units 230 and 330 may be respectively provided in one endrotation coupling portion 301 of the rotation unit 300 and one endcommon coupling portion 201 of the common coupling unit 200 andconfigured to tilt the tilting unit 400 and rotate the rotation unit300. In addition, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330may prevent the tilting unit 400 and the rotation unit 300 fromarbitrarily rotating from positions at which the tilting unit 400 andthe rotation unit 300 are rotated and fixed.

The rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330 may include arotating angle adjustment unit 230 installed in one end common couplingportion 201 of the common coupling unit 200, and a tilting angleadjustment unit 330 installed in one end rotation coupling portion 301of the rotation unit 300.

The rotating angle adjustment unit 230 may rotate the rotation unit 300and prevent the rotation unit 300 from arbitrarily rotating from theposition at which the rotation unit 300 is rotated and fixed.

The tilting angle adjustment unit 330 may tilt the tilting unit 400 andprevent the tilting unit 400 from arbitrarily rotating from the positionat which the tilting unit 400 is tilted and fixed.

The rotating angle adjustment unit 230 may include: the rotating shaft231 vertically provided in the vertical direction in a coupling unithousing 220 configured to define one end common coupling portion 201 andhaving an internal space; a worm wheel gear 232 integrated with an outerperipheral surface of the rotating shaft 231 and having worm wheel gearteeth formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof; and a worm gear 233disposed to be orthogonal to the rotating shaft 231 and having worm gearteeth 234 configured to engage with the worm wheel gear teeth of theworm wheel gear 232.

The worm gear 233 may be rotated by an operation of a rotation motor 235provided in the coupling unit housing 220 and configured to operateelectrically. The rotation motor 235 may be securely fixed in thecoupling unit housing 220 by means of a motor bracket 236.

A shaft hole 231′ may be formed at an end of the rotating shaft 231, andthe shaft hole 231′ is exposed to the outside through a rotating shaftthrough-hole 265 vertically penetratively formed in an upper portion ofthe coupling unit housing 220. The rotating shaft fixing portion 310 ofthe rotation unit 300 may be coupled to the shaft hole 231′ of therotating shaft 231 which is exposed through the rotating shaftthrough-hole 265.

Meanwhile, a lower side of the coupling unit housing 220 may be opened,and the opened lower side of the coupling unit housing 220 may becovered by the coupling unit cover 207. The operator may separate thecoupling unit cover 207 from the coupling unit housing 220 and thenmaintain and repair the respective components of the rotating angleadjustment unit 230 embedded in the coupling unit housing 220.

The coupling unit cover 207 may support a rotation of a lower end of therotating shaft 231 which is opposite to an upper end of the rotatingshaft 231 at which the shaft hole 231′ is formed. Further, the washerinstallation bracket 180 may be separately provided and then coupled tothe coupling unit cover 207, or the washer installation bracket 180 maybe integrated with the coupling unit cover 207.

The tilting angle adjustment unit 330 may include a tilting shaft 331horizontally provided in the horizontal direction in a rotating housing320 configured to define one end rotation coupling portion 301 andhaving an internal space; a worm wheel gear 332 integrated with an outerperipheral surface of the tilting shaft 331 and having worm wheel gearteeth 332 formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof; and a worm gear333 disposed to be orthogonal to the rotating shaft 231 and having wormgear teeth 334 configured to engage with the worm wheel gear teeth 332of the worm wheel gear 332.

The worm gears 233 and 333 may include the rotating worm gear 233included in the rotating angle adjustment unit 230, and the tilting wormgear 333 included in the tilting angle adjustment unit 330.

The worm wheel gears 232 and 332 may include the rotating worm wheelgear 232 included in the rotating angle adjustment unit 230, and thetilting worm wheel gear 332 included in the tilting angle adjustmentunit 330.

The worm gear 333 may be rotated by an operation of a rotation motor 335provided in the rotating housing 320 and configured to operateelectrically. The rotation motor 335 may be securely fixed in therotating housing 320 by means of the motor bracket 336.

The rotation motors 235 and 335 may include the rotating rotation motor235 provided in the common coupling unit 200 and configured to rotatethe rotation unit 300 in the horizontal direction, and the tiltingrotation motor 335 provided in the rotation unit 300 and configured torotate the tilting unit 400 in the vertical direction.

A shaft hole 331′ may be formed at an end of the tilting shaft 331, andthe shaft hole 331′ is exposed to the outside through a tilting shaftthrough-hole 365 penetratively formed leftward and rightward in one sidewall of the rotating housing 320. The tilting shaft fixing portion 410of the tilting unit 400 may be coupled to the shaft hole 331′ of thetilting shaft 331 which is exposed through the tilting shaftthrough-hole 365.

Meanwhile, one side of the rotating housing 320 may be opened, and oneopen side of the rotating housing 320 may be covered by the rotatingcover 307. The operator may separate the rotating cover 307 from therotating housing 320 and then maintain and repair the respectivecomponents of the tilting angle adjustment unit 330 embedded in therotating housing 320.

The rotating cover 307 may serve to support a rotation of the other endof the tilting shaft 331 which is opposite to one end of the tiltingshaft 331 at which the shaft hole 331′ is formed.

As described above, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330may serve to automatically adjust the direction of the antenna A byrotating the rotation unit 300 and the tilting unit 400 and to preventvibration so that the direction of the antenna A is not arbitrarilychanged by an external environment in a state in which the direction ofthe antenna A is fixed.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are cut-away perspective views taken along lines A-A,B-B, and C-C in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 7A to 7C, the tilting shaft 331 of the tilting angleadjustment unit 330 of the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and330 may be horizontally installed in the horizontal direction in therotating housing 320. In addition, the rotating shaft 231 of therotating angle adjustment unit 230 of the rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330 may be vertically installed in the vertical directionin the common coupling housing 220. Further, the coupling shaft 210 ofthe common coupling unit 200 may be vertically installed in the verticaldirection on the fixing shaft hole block 190 having the shaft insertionhole 191 and formed in the vertical direction in the tip of the arm mainbody 110 of the arm unit 100.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the tilting shaft 331 of thetilting angle adjustment unit 330 may be coupled such that one endthereof surrounds a convex tip portion of the tilting shaft fixingportion 410. Further, the other end of the tilting shaft 331 may bepenetratively coupled to a shaft fixing hole 308 penetratively formed inthe rotating cover 307, and the two opposite ends of the tilting shaft331 may be respectively sealed by one side seal 309 a and the other sideseal 309 b.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the rotating shaft 231 of therotating angle adjustment unit 230 is also coupled such that one endthereof surrounds a convex tip portion of the rotating shaft fixingportion 310. Further, the other end of the rotating shaft 231 may bepenetratively coupled to a shaft fixing hole 208 penetratively formed inthe coupling unit cover 207, and the two opposite ends of the rotatingshaft 231 may be respectively sealed by one side seal 209 a and theother side seal 209 b.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a clamping apparatus for anantenna according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that the clamping apparatusfor an antenna according to another embodiment of the present inventionis different from the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to theembodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIGS. 1to 7C.

That is, according to the clamping apparatus for an antenna according tothe embodiment of the present invention described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7C, the rotation unit 300 of the clamping unit 60 isinstalled on the arm unit 100 by means of the common coupling unit 200.

In contrast, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, in the clamping apparatus foran antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention therotation unit 300 of the clamping unit 60 may be rotatably installeddirectly to the fixing shaft hole block 190 provided at the tip portionof the arm main body 110 of the arm unit 100 without the common couplingunit 200.

In addition, since the clamping apparatus for an antenna according toanother embodiment of the present invention excludes the common couplingunit 200, the rotating angle adjustment unit 230, which is embedded inthe common coupling unit 200 and configured to rotate the rotation unit300 in the horizontal direction, may also be excluded. That is, anembodiment in which only the tilting angle adjustment unit 330 embeddedin the rotation unit 300 remains unlike the above-mentioned embodimentin which the rotating angle adjustment unit 230 and the tilting angleadjustment unit 330 are provided, may be defined as another embodimentof the present invention.

Because all the other remaining components are identical to thecomponents according to the above-mentioned embodiment of the presentinvention in terms of the configurations and coupling relationships, adetailed description thereof will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to anotherembodiment of the present invention has been described as excluding thecommon coupling unit 200 from the clamping apparatus for an antennaaccording to the embodiment of the present invention. However, therotation unit 300 may be excluded, instead of the common coupling unit200, from the clamping apparatus for an antenna according to theembodiment of the present invention. In this case, the tilting unit 400may be coupled to the common coupling unit 200 so as to be rotatable inthe horizontal direction.

That is, in the clamping apparatuses for an antenna according to theembodiments of the present invention, the rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330 may include at least one of the rotating angleadjustment unit 230 and the tilting angle adjustment unit 330 and rotateat least one of the rotation unit 300 and the tilting unit 400, therebyadjusting the direction of the antenna A and preventing the antenna Afrom arbitrarily rotating after the direction of the antenna A isadjusted.

In the case in which the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330include at least one of the rotating angle adjustment unit 230 and thetilting angle adjustment unit 330, the rotation motors 235 and 335 mayinclude at least one of the rotating rotation motor 235 and the tiltingrotation motor 335, the worm gears 233 and 333 configured to be rotatedby the rotation motors 235 and 335 may also include at least one of therotating worm gear 233 and the tilting worm gear 333, the shafts 231 and331 configured to serve as the rotation center of at least one of therotation unit 300 and the tilting unit 400 may also include at least oneof the rotating shaft 231 and the tilting shaft 331, and the worm wheelgears 232 and 332, which are installed on the outer peripheral surfacesof the shafts 231 and 331 and rotate at least one of the rotation unit300 and the tilting unit 400 by being rotated by the worm gears 233 and333, may also include at least one of the rotating worm wheel gear 232and the tilting worm wheel gear 332.

FIGS. 10 to 14 are perspective views illustrating various embodiments ofthe rotation/vibration prevention unit in the configuration of theclamping apparatus for an antenna according to the embodiments of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 14, in the clamping apparatuses for an antennaaccording to the embodiments of the present invention, therotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330 may be implemented asvarious embodiments so as to provide a reaction force between the wormwheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gears 232 and 332 formed on the outerperipheral surfaces of the tilting shaft 331 and the rotating shaft 231and the worm gear teeth 234 and 334 formed on the outer peripheralsurfaces of the worm gears 233 and 333 to prevent the engaging teethfrom being arbitrarily spaced apart from one another.

In more detail, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330 mayhave further increased meshing surfaces or maintain meshing forcescorresponding to the increased meshing surfaces in comparison with thecase in which the worm wheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gears 232 and332 are provided in the form of spur gear teeth.

Referring to FIG. 10, the worm wheel gears 232 and 332 and the wormgears 233 and 333 of the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330are configured to engage with one another, thereby preventing vibrationby using the reaction force, called a gear meshing force, in a case inwhich separate power is not supplied to the rotation motors 235 and 335in a state in which the direction of the antenna A is fixed (i.e., in acase in which the rotation of the tilting unit 400 is not the tiltingrotation and the rotation of the rotation unit 300 is not the rotatingrotation).

In this case, the worm wheel gears 232 and 332 need not necessarily havethe spur gear teeth on the outer peripheral surfaces of the tiltingshaft 331 and the rotating shaft 231 as the components engaging with theworm gear teeth 234 and 334 of the worm gears 233 and 333, and the wormwheel gears 232 and 332 may of course be provided as helical gearshaving helical gear teeth. The helical gears may have larger gearmeshing surfaces, which engage with the worm gear teeth 234 and 334 ofthe worm gears 233 and 333, than the gears having spur gear teeth,thereby providing a higher reaction force and an excellent resistiveforce against vibration from the outside.

Referring to FIG. 11, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and330 may further include inner damping idle gears 239 a and 339 a betweenthe worm wheel gears 232 and 332 and the worm gears 233 and 333, unlikethe rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330 described withreference to FIG. 10.

The inner damping idle gears 239 a and 339 a may be provided in the formof spur gears capable of engaging with the worm gear teeth 234 and 334of the worm gears 233 and 333 at one side or provided in the form ofworm wheel gears capable of engaging with the worm wheel gear teeth ofthe worm wheel gears 232 and 332 at the other side.

The inner damping idle gears 239 a and 339 a may be configured tomediate power transmission between the worm gears 233 and 333 and theworm wheel gears 232 and 332 and serve to change and transmit therotation direction.

In addition, since the inner damping idle gears 239 a and 339 a areprovided between the worm wheel gears 232 and 332 and the worm gears 233and 333, the gear meshing areas are increased, thereby indirectlyproviding a larger amount of reaction force. In more detail, since oneend of each of the inner damping idle gears 239 a and 339 a engages witheach of the worm gears 233 and 333, and the other end of each of theinner damping idle gears 239 a and 339 a engages with each of the wormwheel gears 232 and 332, the meshing area is twice the meshing area in acase in which the worm gears 233 and 333 engage directly with the wormwheel gears 232 and 332.

Further, it is possible to achieve an additional effect of improvinggear meshing performance by improving a reduction ratio by appropriatelyadjusting gear meshing ratios of the inner damping idle gears 239 a and339 a.

Referring to FIG. 12, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and330 may further include outer damping idle gears 239 b and 339 b outsidethe worm gears 233 and 333, unlike the rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330 described with reference to FIG. 10. The outer dampingidle gears 239 b and 339 b may be simply idled by the worm gears 233 and333 when the worm gears 233 and 333 are operated by the rotation motors235 and 335.

The outer damping idle gears 239 b and 339 b may be provided in the formof spur gears or worm wheel gears that additionally engage with the wormgear teeth 234 and 334 outside the worm gears 233 and 333 in order toconsistently maintain the state in which the worm wheel gears 232 and332 and the worm gears 233 and 333 engage with one another.

The worm gears 233 and 333 may be provided between the outer dampingidle gears 239 b and 339 b and the worm wheel gears 232 and 332. Oneside of each of the worm gears 233 and 333 may engage with the gearteeth of each of the outer damping idle gears 239 b and 339 b, and theother side of each of the worm gears 233 and 333 may engage with theworm wheel gear teeth of each of the worm wheel gears 232 and 332.

According to the outer damping idle gears 239 b and 339 b describedabove, since the worm gears 233 and 333 are stably rotated between theworm wheel gears 232 and 332 and the outer damping idle gears 239 b and339 b, the separation of the worm gears 233 and 333 from the worm wheelgears 232 and 332 is minimized, such that the rotation unit 300 and thetilting unit 400 are prevented from being arbitrarily rotated byvibration transmitted from the outside.

In more detail, because the worm gears 233 and 333 are supported on theworm wheel gears 232 and 332 by the outer damping idle gears 239 b and339 b, an arbitrary separation caused by external vibration may beprevented. Further, because the two opposite sides of each of the wormgears 233 and 333 engage with each of the worm wheel gears 232 and 332and each of the outer damping idle gears 239 b and 339 b, the meshingsurface may be ensured in a larger area.

Referring to FIG. 13, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and330 may be implemented to further include additional damping idle gears239 c and 339 c configured to engage with brake gears 238 and 338separately provided at the end of the tilting shaft 331 and the end ofthe rotating shaft 231, i.e., at the ends opposite to the ends at whichthe worm wheel gears 232 and 332 are formed, unlike therotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330 described with referenceto FIG. 10.

That is, unlike the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330described with reference to FIG. 10, the rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330, which are described with reference to FIG. 13, mayfurther include: the brake gears 238 and 338 which are provided on theouter peripheral surfaces of the ends opposite to the ends at which theworm wheel gears 232 and 332 are installed among the two opposite endsof the tilting shaft 331 and the two opposite ends of the rotating shaft231; and the additional damping idle gears 239 c and 339 c configured toengage with the brake gears 238 and 338.

According to the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330implemented as described above, the meshing surfaces of the brake gears238 and 338 and the meshing surfaces of the additional damping idlegears 239 c and 339 c may be added to the meshing surfaces of the wormgears 233 and 333 and the meshing surfaces of the worm wheel gears 232and 332, thereby ensuring larger meshing surfaces. Therefore, it ispossible to further maintain the reaction force against vibrationtransmitted from the outside and prevent the arbitrary rotation of therotation unit 300 and the arbitrary rotation of the tilting unit 400.

Referring to FIG. 14, the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and330 may be implemented to further include leaf spring dampers 239 d and339 d provided on the motor brackets 236 and 336 configured to mediatethe installation of the worm gears 233 and 333, and the leaf springdampers 239 d and 339 d may allow the worm gears 233 and 333 to be inclose contact with the worm wheel gears 232 and 332, unlike therotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330 described with referenceto FIG. 10.

That is, unlike the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330described with reference to FIG. 10, the rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330, which are described with reference to FIG. 14, mayinclude the motor brackets 236 and 336 configured to support the wormgears 233 and 333 so that the worm gears 233 and 333 are rotatable; andthe leaf spring dampers 239 d and 339 d provided at one side of themotor brackets 236 and 336 and configured to elastically support themotor brackets 236 and 336 including the worm gears 233 and 333 towardthe worm wheel gears 232 and 332.

Two opposite ends 239 d′ and 339 d′ of each of the leaf spring dampers239 d and 339 d may be approximately bent and protrude outward andinstalled on the motor brackets 236 and 336 so as to be supported on theinner surface of the coupling unit housing 220 and the inner surface ofthe rotating housing 320 on which the rotation/vibration preventionunits 230 and 330 are installed.

The leaf spring dampers 239 d and 339 d described above provide reactionforces that consistently and elastically support the worm gears 233 and333 to the worm wheel gears 232 and 332 and bring the worm gears 233 and333 into close contact with the worm wheel gears 232 and 332. Therefore,it is possible to prevent the arbitrary rotations of the rotation unit300 and the tilting unit 400 caused by vibration transmitted from theoutside.

In the embodiment of the rotation/vibration prevention units 230 and 330described with reference to FIG. 14, the leaf spring dampers 239 d and339 d each in the form of a plate spring are exemplarily described.However, any component including a general spring may be applied as longas the component may provide elasticity.

In the embodiment in which the leaf spring dampers 239 d and 339 d areprovided, the elastic supporting force, which supports the worm gears233 and 333 to the worm wheel gears 232 and 332, may be an elasticsupporting force applied to the extent of maintaining the meshing forcecorresponding to the increased meshing surface in the other embodimentsdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13.

As described above, in the embodiments of the clamping apparatuses foran antenna according to the present invention, the rotation/vibrationprevention units include the brake unit, which is the friction structurebetween the tilting unit 400 and the rotation unit 300, and the brakeunit, which is the friction structure between the rotation unit 300 andthe common coupling unit 200, and further have the structure changed indesign to maintain the meshing surface or the meshing force of the wormgears 233 and 333 and the worm wheel gears 232 and 332 of the tiltingangle adjustment unit 330 and the rotating angle adjustment unit 230that operate to substantially perform the tilting rotation of thetilting unit 400 and the rotating rotation of the rotation unit 300.Therefore, it is possible to prevent the arbitrary movement caused byfine vibration transmitted from the outside.

The embodiments of the clamping apparatus for an antenna according tothe present invention have been described in detail above with referenceto the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is notnecessarily limited by the embodiments, and various modifications of theembodiments and any other embodiments equivalent thereto may of coursebe carried out by those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains. Accordingly, the true protection scope of thepresent invention should be determined by the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides the clamping apparatus for an antenna,which is capable of improving a degree of installation freedom andworkability at the time of installing the antenna on the support polewith many spatial restrictions.

1. A clamping apparatus for an antenna, the clamping apparatuscomprising: a rotation unit configured to rotate an antenna in ahorizontal direction; a tilting unit configured to rotate the antenna ina vertical direction; and a rotation/vibration prevention unitconfigured to adjust a direction of the antenna by rotating at least oneof the rotation unit and the tilting unit and prevent the antenna fromarbitrarily rotating after the direction of the antenna is adjusted,wherein the rotation/vibration prevention unit comprises: a rotationmotor; a worm gear configured to be rotated by the rotation motor; ashaft configured to define at least one rotation center; and a wormwheel gear installed on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft andconfigured to rotate at least one of the rotation unit and the tiltingunit while being rotated by the worm gear.
 2. The clamping apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein worm wheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gear areprovided in the form of spur gear teeth.
 3. The clamping apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein worm wheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gear areprovided in the form of helical gear teeth.
 4. The clamping apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the rotation/vibration prevention unit furthercomprises an inner damping idle gear, the inner damping idle gear isprovided between the worm gear and the worm wheel gear, one side of theinner damping idle gear engages with worm gear teeth of the worm gear,and the other side of the inner damping idle gear engages with wormwheel gear teeth of the worm wheel gear.
 5. The clamping apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the inner damping idle gear is provided in the form ofa spur gear.
 6. The clamping apparatus of claim 4, wherein the innerdamping idle gear is provided in the form of a worm wheel gear capableof engaging with the worm wheel gear teeth.
 7. The clamping apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the rotation/vibration prevention unit furthercomprises an outer damping idle gear, the worm gear is provided betweenthe outer damping idle gear and the worm wheel gear, one side of theworm gear engages with gear teeth of the outer damping idle gear, andthe other side of the worm gear engages with worm wheel gear teeth ofthe worm wheel gear.
 8. The clamping apparatus of claim 7, wherein theouter damping idle gear is provided in the form of a spur gear.
 9. Theclamping apparatus of claim 7, wherein the outer damping idle gear isprovided in the form of a worm wheel gear capable of engaging with theworm wheel gear teeth.
 10. The clamping apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe rotation/vibration prevention unit further comprises: a brake gearprovided at an end of the shaft; and an additional damping idle gearconfigured to engage with the brake gear.
 11. The clamping apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the rotation/vibration prevention unit furthercomprises: a motor bracket configured to support the worm gear so thatthe worm gear is rotatable; and a leaf spring damper provided at oneside of the motor bracket and configured to elastically support themotor bracket to the worm wheel gear.